It was nearly six o'clock when the two
shoppers made their appearance, wearied with the labors of the
day, but in fine spirits. Besides purchasing every requisite for
that wonderful costume of hers, the General's wife had found some
laces of rare beauty, which she had secured for the mere trifle of
four thousand francs. "It was one of those opportunities one
ought always to profit by," she said, as she displayed her
purchase. "Besides, it is the same with lace as with diamonds,
you should purchase them when you can--then you have them. It
isn't an outlay--it's an investment." Subtle reasoning that has
cost many a husband dear!
On her side, Madame Leon proudly showed her dear young lady a very
pretty present which Madame de Fondege had given her. "So money
is no longer lacking in this household," thought Mademoiselle
Marguerite, all the more confirmed in her suspicions.
The General came in a little later, accompanied by a friend, and
Marguerite soon discovered that the worthy man had spent the day
as profitably as his wife. He too was quite tired out; and he had
reason to be fatigued. First, he had purchased the horses
belonging to the ruined spendthrift, and he had paid five thousand
francs for them, a mere trifle for such animals. Less than an
hour after the purchase he had refused almost double that amount
from a celebrated connoisseur in horse-flesh, M.
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